Greece

Greek Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis will visit Israel early next year, culminating the rapid improvement in ties between the two countries since his conservative New Democratic Party assumed power in April 1990. Speaking here Sunday to members of the American Jewish Committee, the prime minister offered to host the ongoing Middle East peace talks, specifically… More ▸

Greek Justice Minister Michael Papakostanlinou signed papers Thursday ordering the extradition of Palestinian terrorist Abdulrahim Khaled to Italy, where he is under life sentence for plotting the 1985 hijacking of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro. The long-delayed extradition order reflects Greece’s change of policy toward terrorists since the Socialist government of Andreas Papandreou was… More ▸

The Greek Supreme Court on Tuesday postponed for the second time an extradition hearing for Palestinian terrorist Abdulrahim Khaled, who is wanted in Italy for planning the hijacking of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro on Oct. 7, 1985. Khaled, arrested in Greece in March on unrelated charges, was to go on trial here this… More ▸

Joseph Lovinger, president of the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece for 24 years, died of cancer Tuesday in Athens. He was reportedly 77. Lovinger, who is credited with raising the profile of the organized Jewish community here, was often outspoken on Jewish issues. During a January 1989 visit to World Jewish Congress headquarters… More ▸

A three-member appeals court here ruled Tuesday that an Arab man suspected of taking part in the October 1985 hijacking of the Achille Lauro cruise ship may be extradited to Italy. But the suspect, Abdulrahim Khaled, 56, is appealing the ruling to the Greek Supreme Court. And even if the high court backs extradition, it… More ▸

Greek police have arrested an Arab and a Greek who allegedly played major roles in the hijacking of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro six years ago. The Arab, whose name has been variously reported as Abdulrahim Khaled or Abdul Rahmin Khaled, has been described as a right-hand man to Palestinian terrorist Mohammed (Abul) Abbas,… More ▸

Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy undoubtedly was anxious to show his gratitude for Greece’s vastly improved relations with Israel when he sought — and got — a meeting with Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis in Paris last week. But some of his remarks, at least as reported by the Greek media, raised eyebrows here. After congratulating… More ▸

Israel’s new ambassador to Greece, David Sasson, presented his credentials to President Konstantinos Karamanlis last Thursday. The formal ceremony took place at the Presidential Palace, where the Israeli envoy was escorted by a military guard of honor. The protocols were followed by a private 35-minute conversation with the Greek chief of state. Observers said it… More ▸

The Palestine Liberation Organization has pledged to do anything in its power to help evacuate Greek nationals from Iraq and Kuwait. The offer was conveyed by the PLO diplomatic representative in Athens, Abdallah al-Abdallah, to the secretary of the Communist Party of Greece, Grigoris Farakos, whom he visited Wednesday at his office. The PLO official… More ▸

The Israel government has formally approved Greece’s choice of its first ambassador to the Jewish state. He is Konstantine Tsokos, an experienced diplomat whose most recent assignment was in Kuwait, an Arab League member state which is technically at war with Israel. That association stirred some protests here, especially among members of the Greek-Israel Friendship… More ▸